A Day's Journey Poem by Felix Emeka George

I in-bed with my Lady
I heard a maiden wail from afar
I looked through the warm window,
I saw a woman, my concubine wailing.

I asked; Death! she said my father is gone
I lost an in-law, illegitimate albeit

I rushed my feet to condolence
I know, It is traditional to wail, like a trapped lion.
I wailed like in transition, overtaken- -
i stopped myself, remembering
I am not the killer.
I heard them say, 'get ready for a journey'
I, to walk from crack of day to land of death and
I come back at the roast of the evening
I spent a day, a long day's journey.

I never knew my journey was to be long.
I had promised my main maiden a visit
I shouted! What a wonderful chance as
I walked beside my shadow,
I walked in silence at night a solitary soul
I heard from afar the heat of some noise,
I listened like the crab or the snail,
I drew back my ears into my brain to be sure
I thought I was deceived by wind but no, I really heard.
I recalled the call as noise yet music,
I heard the talking drum loud, yet
I listened and heard the gurgling melody.
I kept my foot covered by the morning mist, and when
I got there, I was warmly welcomed.
I greeted in restitution to their hospitality
I showered, then they showed me a seat in peace.
I sat but with no real peace as
I had started hearing whispers of top secret.
I listened in awe as the women talked
I knew a great sacrilege has been committed,
I need not wait to see the sacrilege.
I greeted and exited the promised doom land.
I know for sowing is reaping.


I heard, of stories that trailed me later,
I was dumbfounded. For some men as firebearers
I heard had already burnt down the insignia of our culture.
I felt pity for them but then
I heard the terrible details of their act,
I said, "let the head that scattered the beehive get stung".
I heard they had a covenant.
I had never heard such sacrilege before.
I could not fathom their motive for forcing a door open.
I hate to narrate it because it is sad news
I heard of ladies in the sacred place of our ancestors.
I knew it as sin against our African heritage.
I was confused.
I and others used to struggle to gain access.
I heard about the destruction of our culture.
I could not as a faithful man believe their exceptional thoughtlessness.
I knew they had lost their human head.
I have never seen any human being as foolish.